Belgian employers adopt a more cautious hiring approach amid economic uncertainties

Nearly half of Belgian employers (47%) plan to maintain their workforce by the end of the year. However, the Net Employment Outlook for Q4 2025 stands at +18%, marking a third consecutive decline and reaching its lowest level in four years.

According to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey released today, Belgian employers anticipate a further slowdown in hiring during the fourth quarter of 2025. Among the 519 employers surveyed in July by ManpowerGroup, 35% plan to increase their workforce by the end of December 2025, while 16% expect to reduce headcount. 47% foresee no change.

After seasonal adjustment, the Net Employment Outlook – the difference between the percentage of employers expecting to hire and those anticipating layoffs – reaches a cautious +18%. This represents a drop of 4 points compared to the previous quarter and 7 points year-on-year. It is the third consecutive decline, bringing the Outlook to its lowest level since Q3 2021. Belgium remains 1 point above the European average (+17%), but 5 points below the global average (+23%).

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“Employers are seeking ways to remain competitive in a constantly evolving global economy, where uncertainty has become the new normal,” explains Sébastien Delfosse, Managing Director of ManpowerGroup BeLux. The analysis of the Belgian results shows that nearly half (47%) aim to stabilize their workforce, while more than one in three plan to strengthen it in the coming quarter, revealing a lack of momentum in the job market. In this challenging environment, employers must balance stability and agility, notably by turning to flexible workforce solutions. It’s not just about cost-cutting: companies are actively rethinking how work is organized to ensure growth and prepare for the future.”

Employers facing talent management challenges

Beyond workforce size, employers are facing growing challenges in talent management. 42% of surveyed employers in Belgium cite attracting qualified candidates as their main obstacle, while 36% consider work-life balance the most effective retention strategy.

 One in four (24%) hires specifically to keep pace with technological change. Among those reducing staff, one-third (32%) cite economic uncertainty as the main reason.

Greater resilience among employers in Flanders

Employment prospects remain positive across Belgium’s three regions: +24% in Flanders, +14% in Brussels, and +11% in Wallonia.

Flemish employers stand out with increased resilience (+24%), with forecasts rising 5 points compared to the previous quarter, though down 2 points year-on-year.

Survey results show significantly more pessimistic outlooks in Brussels (+14%) and Wallonia (+11%). The Net Employment Outlook dropped 21 points quarter-on-quarter and 20 points year-on-year in Brussels, while Wallonia saw declines of 12 and 13 points, respectively.

Contrasting employment trends across sectors

Employers in 7 out of 9 sectors surveyed in Belgium plan to increase their workforce by year-end, although forecasts have declined in 5 sectors compared to the same period last year. As in the previous quarter, trends vary significantly by sector.

The Information Technology (IT) sector stands out with particularly strong momentum, posting a Net Employment Outlook of +52%, as companies continue transformation projects requiring new expertise and roles.

Recruitment activity is also expected to be strong in Financial & Real Estate Services (+45%), Communication Services (+40%), and to a lesser extent in Consumer Goods & Services (+29%), Transport, Logistics & Automotive (+25%), and Manufacturing & Construction (+18%).

In contrast, employers report very pessimistic forecasts in Healthcare & Life Sciences (+2%), Public Services, Education & Other Services (+0%), and the Energy sector (-1%).

By company size, employers with 50 to 249 employees report the most optimistic forecasts (+32%).

Employment outlook declines in 26 of 42 countries surveyed globally

The global survey conducted by ManpowerGroup among over 40,000 employers reveals positive employment prospects in all 42 countries and territories, with a Net Employment Outlook of +23%. While relatively stable, the Outlook has declined in 26 countries compared to Q4 2024.

Employment is under greater pressure in Europe, where the Outlook stands at +18%, down 1 point quarter-on-quarter and stable year-on-year. Hiring intentions declined in 7 out of 20 countries quarter-on-quarter and in 16 countries year-on-year.

With a Net Employment Outlook of +18%, Belgium ranks 6th out of 20 European countries, on par with Italy (+18%). However, it trails behind Ireland (+29%), the Netherlands (+28%), Sweden (+26%), and Switzerland (+26%), but ahead of Germany (+17%), Spain (+17%), France (+13%), the UK (+11%), Poland (+10%), and Hungary (+8%).

Elsewhere in the world, the Outlook reaches +40% in India, +34% in China, +28% in the United States, and +12% in Japan.

(1) Throughout this report, we use the term ‘Net Employment Outlook.’ This figure is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting to see a decrease in employment at their location in the next quarter. The result of this calculation is the Net Employment Outlook. The analysis is based on seasonnally adjusted data.

About the Survey

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey for the fouth quarter of 2025 was conducted in July 2025 by interviewing a representative sample of employers from 40,000 private companies and public organizations in 42 countries and territories around the world (including 519 in Belgium). The aim of the survey is to measure employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. All survey participants were asked the same question: “How do you anticipate total employment at your location to change in the three months to the end of December 2025 as compared to the current quarter?” It is the only forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area of focus. The Survey has been running for 60 years and is one of the most trusted surveys of employment activity in the world. It is considered a highly respected economic indicator.

Report : ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey Q4/2025